Luggage carrier garment supporter



Oct. 24, LEV|NE LUGGAGE CARRIER GARMENT SUPPORTER Filed Sept. 15 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 24, 1933.

A. LEVINE Filed Sept. 15 1931 LUGGAGE CARRIER GARMENT SUPPORTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR firafim [m BY ATTO RNEY Patented Oct. 24, 1933 PATENT OFFICE LUGGAGE CARRIER GARMENT SUPPORTER Abraham Levine, Elizabeth, N. J., assignor to Presto Lock Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 15, 1931 Serial No. 562,896

17 Claims.

This invention relates to clothes racks.

While the invention, in a particular application, is described herein in relation to containers such as trunks, handbags and the like, all of which are substantially portable, it is, however, applicable to many other combinations, not necessarily involving containers, and especially containers of the specific types indicated. The invention, in the specific association herein described, consists in the inclusion, within the top of a handbag such as that commonly known as an overnight, bag, of a rack or support upon which dresses or similar articles of apparel may be retained, so that the rack and the clothing maybe positioned snugly within the top when the bag is closed, or may easily be made available after thebag is opened.

It is an object of the invention to provide a rack for clothing and similar articles, and sup- 0 ports for the rack of such character that the rack may be positioned either flat against a base to which the supports are related, or be extended away therefrom so that apparel may be positioned upon or removed from the rack, in which the rack is forced into any of its positions merely by grasping a portion of the rack with one hand and, by movingthe rack, forcing the entire assembly into the desired position.

It is an object of the invention to provide within a bag or container of the character indicated, a clothes rack which may be collapsed within a portion of the container, such as the top of the bag, or be extended beyond such portion in accordance with the intent of the user to assemble on the rack, or to remove therefrom, clothing, or to relate the rack to the portion so that all may be transported readily. For this purpose, the rack is assembled in such'manner that, by imparting a rotary movement to the rack, and, at 40 the same time pulling it forwardly, the rack may be extended beyond the top so that clothing may be arranged thereon, or removed therefrom, the rack, in such position, being firmly supported, and yet being retained in such manner that, by a simple pressure, it may be moved to bring it again into the collapsed position, merely the pressure of one hand upon the rack being used for this purpose.

Other objects of this invention will be hereinafter set forth, orwill be apparent from the description and the drawings, in which is illustrated anembodiment of apparatus for carrying out the invention. i

The invention, however, is not intended to be restricted to the particular construction and arrangement of parts, nor to the particular applications of such construction, nor to the specific methods of operation, nor to the various details thereof, herein shown and described, as the same may be modified in various particulars or be applied in many varied relations without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the practical embodiment herein illustrated and described merely being an attempt to show one of the various forms and modifications in which the invention might be embodied.

For the attainment of these objects and of such other objects as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out, I have illustrated an embodiment of :iy invention in the drawings wherein:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a handbag, shown open and partly broken away, the invention being embodied into the cover thereof;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View, vertically of the raised cover, showing the rack extended;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of portions of the link mechanism, shown in an intermediate pivoting position; I

Fig. 4 is a detail section on the line 4'4 of Fig. 2, illustrating the construction of a spring stop utilised in the invention;

Fig. 5 is a detail section on the line 55 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a detail plan section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

While, inthe particular disclosure of the drawings, the invention is shown applied to a bag 10, and specifically to the cover 12 thereof, it is to be understood that the specific illustration is not intended to be restrictive in any manner, as features of the invention may be applied generally to the support of a rack for movement with relation to a support, in the manner hereinafter appearing. In the specific disclosure hereof, the rack 14 is intended to be collapsed within the depressed area 16 formed by the bounding wall 18 of cover 12, and there to retain the clothing or the like that may have been positioned upon the rack. The dimensions of the rack are such that the rack and the clothing retained thereon will fit snugly within the depressed area.

The rack preferably consists of a pair of side members 20, preferably of strap iron or steel, or similar resilient metal, which is of suflicient rigidity to withstand considerable stress without distortion. These members are retained fixedly in a predetermined relation'to each other by means of a pair of cross straps 22 which may be of material similar to that of members 20. Intermediately of each of the members 20 is formed an outwardly off its seat.

- along the guide.

biased offset 24, upon which is provided a pivot post 26, by means of which the rack, as a unit, is pivotally supported upon a pair of links 28. Each of these links, in turn, is pivotally connected to an arm 30, fixedly pivoted at 32 upon wall 18.

The ends of links 28 extending beyond the pivot posts 26 may have pins 34 or like elements affixed therein and extending therefrom so as to be received within guides 36, which preferably are secured to wall 18. These pins are formed with heads 38 to prevent their separation from the guides; the pins serve to restrain the link ends to a straight line path, determined by the guides, as the pins move along the slots 40 of the guides, which are arranged substantially parallelly of wall 18. In order to permit this association of pins 34 with the guides, and the links with the arms, the ends of the links are offset, as indicated at 42, for the purpose of clearance. V

The portions of links 28 with which the pivot posts 26 engage preferably are formed as angular extensions 44 of the link bodies to provide means upon each of which stops 46 and 48 may be arranged. A spherical seat 50, formed in each of the extensions immediately adjacent each stop 48, opens at the inner face of the extension, this opening being of such dimensions that a ball 52 may be seated therewithin from the outside face, and have a small portion extended beyond the inside face. A leaf spring 54, secured to the outside face, forces the ball against its seat, except when the offset 24, retained closely adjacent the link extension 44 by the method of assembly, moves past the extending end of the ball and forces it into its recess and A perforation or suitable'indentation56 preferably is providedin the offset 24 at the position at which the ball will be located when the offset abuts stop 48. In this position, the ball will seat within the perforation or indentation and act to retain the rack against movement.

Housed within each of guides 36, adjacent the lower end of the slot 40, and preferably secured to the guide by means of a rivet 58, is a spring 60. This spring, immediately above the position the pin 34 assumes at the limit of its downward movement in the slot, is formed with a hump 62. Be yond this hump, the spring extends upwardly to provide a cam 64 over which the extending end of pin 34 will ride when link 28 is moved downwardly When the pin arrives at the hump, the latter will be cammed, downwardly by the pin and will snap back into position to retain the pin within the indent 66 to prevent movement upwardly except upon the action of a sharp pressure brought to bear to force the pin out of the indent. In this position, the linkage would be locked to retain the rack extended away from the cover.

At the extended resilient ends of members 20, are formed spring fingers 68 and '70, in which may be seated removably rollers '72 and 74. The seats for the rollers may consist of perforations '76 through the arms, or of guides '78, secured at the ends of the members and having grooves 80 for guiding the roller ferrules into position. Such guides may be provided with slots 82 for the reception of band 84, preferably of an elastic material. The garments may be extended between the two rollers, and such band may be arranged with relation thereto to retain the garments assembled upon the rollers substantially in flat condition, to which result the cross straps 22 add.

Starting from the position shown in Fig. 1, in which the rack is collapsed within the depressed area of the cover, in order to extend the rack, preferably the lower one of the cross straps is grasped, and is pulled forwardly; the links 28 and the arms 30 are caused to move forwardly, the rear ends of links 28 and the pins 34 moving along guides 36 to accommodate this movement. A point will be reached when the rack will be sub stantially horizontal, the oifset 24 and the loca-- tion of the pivot post 26 permitting the stop 46 to be cleared in this movement (see Fig. 4). Continued rotational movement may be effected beyond this point, however, until the offsets 24 come into contact with the extending ends of balls 52,

imposing a drag upon links 28 and thus acting to pull the pins down further along the guides, and then over the cams 64. Finally, members 20 will abut stops 48, whereupon further rotational 'movement of the rack will require the links to move along with it, as if they were one member, and effect continued sliding movement of pins 34 over springs until they pass over humps 62 and into the indents 66, when the rack will be supported substantially in upright position.

After garments have been assembled upon, or removed from, the rack, as desired, the bottom roller '22 may be grasped, and reverse rotation of the rack may be commenced by applying sufiicient-pressure to overcome the action of balls 52. Continued rotation of the rack will bring members 20 into abutment with the stops 46, as appears in Fig. 3, whereupon continued pressure will force pins 34 out of coaction with the indents 66, and the pins will be caused to move up along the guides as the links and the arms will be moved back into collapsed relationship. During this movement the links and the members 20 act substantially as single elements. At the extreme point of movement, prongs 86 extending from one of the cross straps may be engaged within humped spring members 88 to lock the rack in this collapsed condition.

It appears, therefore, that the application of a single hand is all that is required for the several operations involved in the positioning of the rack in its many positions.

Many other changes could be effected in the particular apparatus designed, in the methods of operation set forth, andin the specific details thereof, without substantially departing from the invention hereof which is intended to be defined in the accompanying claims, the specific description hereinabove being set forth merely to illustrate operative embodiments for carrying out the spirit of the invention. 1

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is I 1. A garment supporting rack to be extended and collapsed within the extent of a wall of a container and mounted thereon so that garments may be positioned upon the rack and the rack and the garments then positioned out of the way, and means for supporting the rack in extended or collapsed condition, characterized by a pair of interlinked members capable of asociation in different angular relationships, one of the members carrying the rack so that it may be rotated thereupon, and means operative when the rack is rotated into certain positions and inoperative in 7 other positions for forcing the members to assume the requisite positions as the rack is rotated.

2. A garment supporting rack to be extended and collapsed within the extent of a wall of a container and mounted thereon so that'garments may be positioned upon the rack and the rack and the garments then positioned out of the way, and means for supporting the rack in extended or collapsedcondition, characterized by a pair of interlinked members, one of the members carrying the rack so that itmay be rotated thereupon, and means operative when the rack is rotated into certainpositions and inoperative in other positions for forcing the members to assume the requisite positions as the rack is rotated to locate the rack in extended relation.

3. A garment supporting rack to be extended and collapsed within the extent of a wall of a container and mounted thereon so that garments may be positioned upon the rack and the rack and the garments then positioned out of the way, and means for supporting the rack in extended or collapsed condition, characterized by a pair of interlinked members, one of the members carrying the rack so that it may be rotated thereupon, and means operative when the rack is rotated into certain positions and inoperative in other positions for forcing the members to assume'the requisite positions as the rack is rotated to locate the rack in collapsed relation.

4. A garment supporting rack to be extended and collapsed within the extent of a wall of a container and mounted thereon so that garments may be positioned upon the rack and the rack and the garments then positioned out of the way, and means for supporting the rack in extended or collapsed condition, characterized by a pair of interlinked members, one of the members carrying the rack so that it may be rotated thereupon, and means operative when the rack is rotated into certain positions and inoperative in other positions for forcing the members to assume the requisite positions as the rack is rotated to locate the rack in collapsed or extended relation.

5. A garment supporting rack to be extended and collapsed within the extent of a wall of a container and mounted thereon so that garments maybe positioned upon the rack and the rack-and the garments then positioned out of the way, and means for supporting the rack in extended or collapsed condition, characterized by a pair of interlinked members, one of the members carrying the rack so that it may be rotated thereupon, and means for limiting relative rotation of rack and member so that rotation of the rack will force the members to assume the requisite positions as the rack is rotated.

6. A garment supporting rack to be extended and collapsed within the extent of a wall of a container and mounted thereon so that garments may be positioned upon the rack and the rack and the garments then positioned out of the way, and means for supporting the rack in extended or collapsed condition, characterized by a pair of interlinked members capable of association in different angular relationships, one of the members carrying the rack so that it may be rotated thereupon, and means for limiting relative rotation of rack and member so that rotation of the rack will force the members to assume the requisite positions as the rack is rotated to locate the rack in collapsed or extended relation.

7. In combination with a rack adapted for association with a relatively fixed wall and intended for extension away from or collapse against such wall, means for supporting the rack including a member pivoted upon the wall and a carrier link pivoted intermediately on the member and rotatably supporting the rack, said link I having a portion thereof slidably associated with the wall, the .linkand member being assembled so that movement of the member upon its pivot moves the point of support of the rack on the link toward or away from the wall, and cooperating means on the link and the rack adapted to effectuate movement of the member on rotation of the rock.

8. In combination with a rack adapted for association with a relatively fixed wall and intended for extension away from or collapse against such wall, means for supporting the rack including a member pivoted upon the wall and a carrier link pivoted intermediately on the member and rotatably supporting the rack, said link having a portion thereof constrained to move along the wall toward or away from the wall pivot of the member so that movement of the member upon its wall pivot moves the rack toward and away from the wall, and cooperating means on the link and the rack to effectuate movement of the member when the link is moved.

9. In combination with a rack for association with a relatively fixed wall and intended for extension away from or collapse against such wall, means for supporting the rack including a member pivoted upon the wall and a carrier link pivoted intermediately on the member and rotatably supporting the rack, said link having a portion thereof constrained to move along the wall toward or away from the wall pivot of the member so that movement of the member upon its wall pivot moves the rack toward or away from the wall, cooperating means on the link and the rack adapted to effectuate mcvement of the link, and thereby of the member, and means for retaining the link and the member fixedly associated at limits of their movement.

10. In combination with a rack for association with a relatively fixed wall and intended for extension away from or collapse against such wall, means for supporting the rack including a member pivoted upon the wall and a carrier link pivoted intermediately on the member and rotatably supporting the rack, said link having a portion thereof constrained to move along the Wall toward. or away from the wall pivot of the member so that movement of the member upon its wall pivot moves the rack toward or away from 'the wall, cooperating means on the link and the rack adapted to effectuate movement of the member, means for retaining rack and link fixedly associated at limits of their relative movement, and means for retaining the link and the member fixedly associated at a limit of their movement.

11. In combination with a rack for association with a relatively fixed wall and intended for extension away from or collapse against such wall, means for supporting the rack including a member pivoted upon the wall and a carrier link pivoted intermediately on the member and rotatably supporting the rack, said link having a portion thereof constrained to move along the wall toward or away from the wall pivot of the member so that movement of the member upon its wall pivot moves the rack toward or away from the wall, stops adapted for limiting relative rotational movement of the link and the rack, to effectuate movement of the link, and thereby of the member on rotation of the rack, means for retaining rack and link fixedly associated at a limit of their relative movement, and means for retaining the link and the member fixedly associated at limits of their movement.

12. In combination with a rack for associa- I50 tion with a pair of relatively fixed walls, said rack being intended for extension away from or collapse within such walls, means for supporting the rack including a pair of members pivoted upon the walls and a carrier link associated with each member and carrying the rack, guiding means on the walls for guiding a portion of each link, the links and members being assembled so that movement of the members upon their pivots will move the portions of the link carrying the rack toward or away from the walls and cooperating means on the links and the rack adapted to eifectuate movement of the links, and thereby of the members when the rack is moved.

13. In combination with a rack for association with a pair of relatively fixed walls, and intended for extension away from or collapse against such walls, means for supporting the rack including a member pivoted upon each wall, and a carrier link pivoted intermediately on each member and rotatably supporting the rack, said links having a portion thereof constrained to move along the wall toward or away from the wall pivots of the members, so that movement of the members upon their wall pivots moves the rack-supporting portion of the links toward or away from the walls, cooperating means on the links and the rack adapted to effectuate movement of the members at predetermined relative positionings thereof, when the rack is moved,

and means for retaining rack and links fixedly associated at limits of their relative movement.

14. In combination with a rack for association with a pair of relatively fixed walls and intended for extension away from or collapse against such walls, means for supporting the rack including a member pivoted upon each wall and a carrier link pivoted intermediately on each memberand rotatably supporting the rack, said links having a portion thereof constrained to move along the walls toward or away from the wall pivots of the members so that movement of the members upon their wall pivots moves the rack-supporting portions of the links toward or away from the walls,

.; stops limiting relative rotational movement of the links and the rack, in predeterminedrelative positions thereof, to effectuate movement of the links and thereby of the members on rotation of the rack, means for retaining rack and links fixedly associated at limits of their relative move-lment, and means for retaining the links and the members fixedly associated at a limit of their movement.

15. In combination with a rack adapted for association with a relatively fixed wall and intended for extension away from or collapse against such wall, means for supporting the rack including a member pivoted upon the wall and a carrier link upon the member and carrying the rack, the link being so associated with the wall and with the member that movement of the member upon its pivot moves the portion of the link carrying the rack toward or away from the Wall, and cooperating means on the link and the rack adapted to effectuate movement of the member when the rack is moved.

16. In combination with a rack adapted for association with a relatively fixed wall and intended for extension'away from or collapse against such wall, means for supporting the rack including a member pivoted upon the wall and a carrier link upon the member rotatably supporting the rack, the link and member being assembled with each other and with the wall so that movement of the member upon its pivot moves the point of support of the rack on the link toward or away from the wall, and means including members capable of limiting relative rotational movement of the link and the rack to effectuate movement of the member on rotation of the rack.

17. In combination with a rack adapted for association with a relatively fixed Wall and intended for extension away from or collapse against such wall, means for supporting the rack including a member pivoted upon the wall and a carrier link upon the member and carrying the rack, guiding means for guiding a portion of the link, the link and member being assembled with each other and with the wall so that movement of the member upon its pivot moves the point of support of the rack on the link toward or away from the wall, cooperating'means on the link andthe rack adapted to effectuate movement of the member on rotation of the rack, and means for retaining the link and the member fixedly associated at limits of their movement.

ABRAHAM LEVINE. 

